Device for lasting shoe uppers



:Ju he 24, 1969 I G. PEDRYETTI 3,451,083

DEVICE FOR LASTING SHOE UPPERS Filed April 25, 1967 Sheet of 4 INVENT OR GAE 7,4 v0 7 50x 57 BY W ATTORN June 24,1969 PEDRETTI 1 3,451,083

DEVICE FOR LASTING SHOE UPPERS Filed April 25, 1967 Sheet of 4 FIG. 3 w

15. 4 F- 48 46 44 34/ Z9 Z7 3 25 65 62 PEDRETTI DEVICE FOR LASTING SHOE UPPERS Filed April 25, 1967 Sheet 3 014 w A ////////%/M Q/W/A June 24, 1969 5. PEDRETTI 3,451,083

DEVICE FOR LASTING SHOE UPPERS 7 Filed April 25, 1967 Sheet 4 of 4 United States Patent 3,451,083 DEVICE FOR LASTING SHOE UPPER Gaetano Pedretti, Vigevano, Pavia, Italy 1 Filed Apr. 25, 1967, Ser. No. 633,503 Int. Cl. A23d 21/00 US. Cl. 12--11.3 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lasting machine including pivotally mounted nippers which are movable in a first direction towards a last and which are further movable in a direction perpendicular to the first direction if resistance is met at the last to ensure proper conformance of the shoe vamp to the shape of the last. Further provided is a number of pivotally mounted shapers (which may be heated) which are movable horizontally towards the last to further ensure proper stretching and adherence of the shoe vamp and to eliminate wrinkling thereof. The shapers are also movable in a vertical direction and operate in conjunction with the nippers.

The invention relates to a device for mounting shoe Vamps on lasts, generally used in the manufacture of shoes. 1

There are known devices for mechanically lasting to produce shoes. However, these devices cannot be used for mounting certain types of Vamps, for instance those for ladies shoes, due to the slim shape of the last. Besides, the mounting of the vamp with said known device is limited to the front part of same, that is to the part corresponding to the sole, whereas the mounting of the intermediate part, i.e., the part corresponding to the arch of the foot'must be successively completed by hand. This is because the known devices do not allow stretching and adherence of the leather of the vamp evenly to the profile presented by the intermediate area of the last.

The device according to the present invention makes it possible to mountthe vamp perfectly on the last, applying the appropriate tension in the peripherical area of the vamp, hence applying and folding said area over the shaped profile of the last, so that the edge of the vamp is continually anchored to and retained by the adhesive of the inner-sole, previously applied to the last. This result is achieved in one single operation during which the vamp is caused to adhere evenly to the last, whereas the border of said vamp is anchored to the inner-sole in correspondence with the heel without forming either creases or ribs.

The device according to the present invention, which is provided with one or more nippers to grip the edge of the vamp and with members to change the position of said nippers is characterized'by at least one hinge arranged between the members moving said nippers and the support for said members, to allow the nippers to perform a controlled oscillation during their motion.

According to the invention, another hinge is provided between the clamps and the corresponding supporting means connected with the movable part of the displacement members for said nippers; furthermore, force accumulators or spring means, exert their action on the hinges during the stretching and plying of the vamp.

The device according to the invention can be applied in any position of the perimetral edgeof the last in case said device is applied in correspondence with the middle part and/or point of the last, it is completed by shaping members consisting of a plurality of springed plates which act on the material forming the edge of the vamp.

The said shaping members are advantageously combined with individual means for their dislocation conice nected with the fixed part of the-nipper shifting members by at least one hinge. v

The device, as described above can be realized, in practice not only in the form of a single member but also in the form of grouped members, in order to act, with their nippers, on a certain area of the vamp.

-The components of said groups may be formed by tensioning members only, by shaping members only or otherwise by a combination of both types of said members.

This disclosure covers the vamp mounting machine incorporating, at least in part, the device or the assembly of devices .described hereinabove.

The invention will now be described in conjunction with the attached drawings, illustrating, by way of example only, a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention.

In the drawings: I

v FIGURE 1 is a partial vertical section of the machine to mount the vamp on the last, provided with the device according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the arrangement of the vamp tensioning means.

FIGURES 3a and 3b show a longitudinal cross section of one of the vamp tensioning members on an enlarged scale.

FIGURES 4a and 4b are plan views of FIGURES 3a and 3b, respectively, showing parts in cross section.

FIGURES 5 to 7 illustrate three mounting phases of a vamp on the respective last.

The machine which will be described hereafter consists of tensioning members provided with nippers engaging the edge of the vamp, from the point to the heel approximately, i.e., that corresponding to the area of the cavity or intermediate part of the shoe in question.

The illustrated machine includes a frame A for a supporting and clamping unit B for the last C on which vamp D is mounted and for the tensioning and templating members F used to mount said vamp.

One of said tensioning and templating members will now be described with reference to one of those arranged in correspondence with the cavity of last C, accomplishing a special function of the mounting operation of vamp D on the last.

With reference to FIGURES 3 and 4, a support 10 which, fixed by means of a tang 12 in such way that it can be conveniently orientated with respect to the framing A of the machine, retains, by means of a pivot 14, a unit consisting of five tensioning members F the number of which can vary in relation with the requirements arising from time to time. Each member F of the tensioning members is formed by a small prismatic block 16 provided with an axial boring, to form a cylinder closed at one of its ends, by a plate 18 that terminates with small ears 15 provided with holes into which a pivot 14 is inserted so as to form a hinge. Pivot 14 also retains, in addition to other parts which will be described infra the other tensioning members F of the unit in question, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. The angular position of the small block 16 and of the parts connected with same, is established by a setting screw 20 in engagement with the above mentioned support 10, said screw co-operating with the other end of plate 14.

A piston 22 is slidably arranged in the cylinder formed by the small block 16 and said piston forms pressure chambers fed by connections 24 and 25. It. is, however, more or less intensely applied to the edge of vamp D during the mounting of same on the last.

A small plate 26 is integral with the stem of piston 22, said plate being provided with small punctured wings gripping, by means of a pivot 27, a counter-wing 28 integral with a plate 29 so as to form a hinge. The swinging motion of plate 29 is delimited by the free end of the small plate 26; the latter shows, towards its lower part, a cavity housing a helical spring 30 which, by means of a pushing member 32 urges plate 29 upward and into engagementwith the horizontal end of the small plate 26. The action performed by spring 30 is advantageous- 1y pre-established, in consideration of the following, with respect to the lasting operation.

Plate 29 is conveniently fitted to one of the ends of a small complemental block 2-4 provided with a bore along its longitudinal axis to form a cylinder in which a corresponding piston 35 slides leak proof. A spring 36, slid on shaft 38 of the piston 35 urges the latter against a plug 40 integral with plate 29 as fluid pressure acts on the other surface of said piston, said fluid being fed into the cylinder by means of a connection 42. As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the axis of the two cylinder-piston assemblies 16-22 and 34-35 are coincident. As specified infra said axis can be dislocated one with respect to the other at a certain angle the apex of which is situated in correspondence with the axis of pivot 27 of hinge 26-28. Besides, the axis of oscillation of said hinge is parallel with that of hinge 14-15; said hinges oscillate in opposite directions with respect to each other, for the purposes thereinafter described.

The complemental block 34 presents, on its upper part, a perforated head 44 which houses a small pivot 45 locked in place by a tightening screw 46 and terminating at its protruding end, with an advantageously shaped jaw 48. Said jaw is provided, toward its lower end, with small punctured wings, 50, between which is inserted the medium flattened area 54 of a counter-jaw, said medium flattened area being retained by means of a pin 52, said counter-jaw being influenced by a spring 56 forming the movable jaw of a nipper for gripping the vamp D to be tensioned. Counter-jaw is provided, towards its freeend, with an appendix 57 co-operating with the swelled end of the rod 38 of piston 35.

The cylinder-piston assembly 16-22 is provided with members for adjusting the final arreared position of piston 22. Said members consist of a small piston 58 provided with a threaded pivot 60 terminating with a maneuvering button which, when acted upon, shifts more or less the small'piston 58, thus varying the final arreared position of the jaws of the nippers 48-55. On the other hand, the above mentioned adjusting screw 20 allows to vary, within certain limits, the position in height of the upper end of the nippers 48-55 with respect to the other nippers of the tensioning members F of the unit in question.

The small block 16 retains, with its upper part, a springed slider formed by a housing 62, for flexible means 64 such as, for instance, spiral springs or, as shown, cupshaped springs, extering an action on a slider provided with a swelled head 65 projecting from the top of said housing. Head 65 engages with a sliding surface consistmg of the bottom of a ledge 63 located in the front part of a prismatic bar 66 substantially identical with the small block 16, said bar being provided with an axial hole, to form a closed cylinder at one end of a prismatical head 68 which terminates, towards its lower part, with a small punctured wing inserted between the two small ears 15 of plate 18, where said wing is retained by pivot 14, thus forming a pair of hinges with one common pivot.

A piston 72 is slidably arranged in the cylinder of bar 66, a fluid pressure acting alternatively on the faces of said cylinder, said fluid being introduced into the chambers of the cylinder through connections 74 and 75. Rod 76 of piston 72 retains, at its free end, a slider 78, gliding in the guides of a counter-head 80 fixed to the opposite end of bar 66. The slider 78 is provided, at its free end, with two small punctured wings 82, retaining, side by side, a number of small shaped plates 84 forming a unit. In the illustrated case each of the small plates is allowed to slide along its longitudinal axis independently from the remaining plates, said plates being provided, next to their medium part with an elongated opening 85, the main axis of said open-ing being advantageously inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the said small plate. The openings 85 of the small plates house small sliding rollers slid ,on a pin 86, whereby the ends of said rollers are retained by the small wings of slider 78.

The rear end or back 88 of said small plates is inclined, in such a way, as to be parallel to the main axis of said small plates, an angle smaller than 90. The inclined backs of said small plates co-operate with rolls 90, slideably fitted to a pin 92 also secured to the small wings 82 of slider 78.

The small plates 84 are provided, at their lower ends, with longitudinal slots, housing the shaped ends of corresponding helical springs 95, all fitted to a small rod 96 and retained by said rod, whereas the opposite ends of said helical springs are retained by a small rod 98 fixed together with the small rod 96, to said small wings 82. The helical springs 95 are constrained to the above mentioned parts in advantageously pre-loaded conditions i.e. in such a way that the small plates 84 are engaged and urged by the lower ends of openings 85 and by the backs 88, against the small rolls retained by pivots 86 and 92.

The upper edge of each small plate 84 is conveniently swelled transversally to provide a smooth surface without sharp edges which might damage or deteriorate the vamp. The small plates 84 are combined with means to heat them, consisting, for example of an electric resistance 100 retained by a support 102 fixed to counter-head 80, to heat said small plates when the slider 78 is in arreared position, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4.

Flexible tubes are connected with fittings 24, 25, 42 and 74-75 abutting, through a suitable distributor, to a pressurized fluid source, for instance oil, to operate the different parts of the device in the desired succession, through a temporizing unit.

The description, referred to the aforementioned FIG- URES 3 and 4 concerns, as previously mentioned, a device F which, besides tensioning (stretching) and plying the edge of vamp D against the last C, compresses and elongates said edge against the shaped profile of the last, to eliminate or to reduce, such bulks or creases of the edge which could appear near the point or the hollow part of last C and, in general, at such points or in such positions where the vamp leather must be stretched and caused to adhere evenly to the template represented by said last.

On the other hand, where the area of last C is shaped smoothly and is substantially uniform, it is possible to advantageously use simplified devices F, consisting only of nippers comprising clamps 48-55, driven by the two above-mentioned cylinder piston units 16-22 and 34-35. In the case shown in FIGURE 4 the unit is provided with shaping elements, formed by small, springed plates 84, said plates being greater in number than that of the stretching members, i.e. than the number of clamps 48-55 extending their shaping action up to the initial part of the heel area of the above-mentioned last C. In correspondence of said area, the edge of vamp D is simply stretched and caused to adhere to the surface of the area, by imparting to said edge a limited tension. In practice, the use of the simple stretching device or of the shaping device or otherwise of both devices is established in consideration of the area involved and of the vamp material for instance, it would be possible to use, in the area of the inner-sole, only tensioning members, while the eventual shaping members could consist of one or several movable plates extending parallel to the lower face of last C.

The machine shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 has been realized on the basis of said premises, said machine being provided, in correspondence with the cavity of the last C, with two assemblies of tensioning and shaping devices F of the type shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, while the remaining tensioning devices can be either of the type considered or of the type described in patent application No. 674,507 of the same applicant.

In consideration of the foregoing the performance of device F fitted to the machine as mentioned in an earlier patent of the same inventor, will be now described in the following.

Inner-sole C1 is applied, in the usual manner, to the last C and said last is then arranged on supporting plate 108 of supporting unit C; after which vamp D is placed on the last in such a way that its edge inserts between jaws, 48-55 of the various clamps or nippers of the machine.

It should be noted that, at this instant the jaws are kept open due to the action performed by the corresponding springs 56, since fittings 42 are connected with the outlet, whereas pistons 35 are arreared due to the action performed by the corresponding springs 36. Thereafter the distributor is operated to convey pressurized oil into cylinders 34 and to move pistons 35 in opposition to the action of springs 36. Jaws 55 are shifted toward jaws 48, to grip the vamp as shown in FIGURE 5. In case vamp D is not centered with respect to the last, it is necessary to act on a part of the devices of the tensioners, previously releasing the edge of the vamp from the small nippers (clamps) provided opposite to the above mentioned clamps. In these conditions, a certain tension is applied to the vamp, due to the weight of the small block 16 and to that of the other parts which are restrained by the latter.

Obviously, said tension may be varied or also relieved by acting on screws 20 of support 10. Once the desired centering of the vamp is obtained, the latter is clamped to last C by means of a pressing bearing 110 of the machine, after which the distributor is operated to forward pressurized oil into connections 34, to move the small plates 26 together with nippers 48-55 in the direction shown by arrow X in FIGURE 3. Said operation is clearly shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 in which the latter nippers 48-55 are in their final position in which the edge of vamp D is caused to adhere to the shaped part of the inner-sole C. During said motion clamps 48-55 are eventually caused to oscillate about pivot 14 to exert an increased tension on the vamp.

In case the nippers meet with a resistance during their forward motion, due to the outline of last C these can descend lower, oscillating around pivots 27, in opposition to the action of springs 30. The pressure applied to pistons 22 to shift nippers 48-55 can be advantageously adjusted according to the features of the last C, so that a substantially uniform tension is applied along the whole edge of the vamp. In the event that the ends of some of nippers 48-55 remain at a certain distance from the lower surface of the last, this is not prejudicial to the mounting of the vamp, since said nippers can swing upward to cause the vamp to adhere, as much as possible, to the inner-sole. Said upward motion can be braked if necessary or entrusted by suitable means.

Considering that inner-sole C1, supported by last C, is provided with an adhesive, it follows that the edge of the vamp is retained by said inner-sole. A further union between inner-sole C1 and the edge of vamp D, as well as the suppression of possible bulks and creases, are obtained by operating the shaping members by conveying pressurized oil into fitting 74 to move sliders 78 together with the springed plates 84 in the direction of arrow X, said plates being heated by resistances 100. During the forward motion of the small plates 84, the distributor places connection 42 in communication with the outlet, in such a Way that jaws 55 are opened to release the edge of the vamp, as shown in FIGURE 7. The small plates 84 engage, 'with their upper, smooth and heated part, the edge of vamp 10, stretching said vamp and pressing it against the shaped part of the inner-sole which is mounted on the last. Since said small plates are heated, they improve the adhesion between inner-sole C1 and the edge of the vamp; this condition is essential when thermo-sealing adhesives are used.

If the small plates 84 meet considerable resistance during their forward motion, bar 66 is allowed to yield flexibly, which is consented by the springed slider 65. As a consequence, a specific uniform pressure is applied to the vamp and identical conditions are realized in correspondence of the hollow part and of the point of the last. After completion of this operation, the distributor is again operated, in order to place the connections 25 and 75 in communication with the pressure source and connections 24 and 74 with the outlet; pistons 22 and 72 are thus arreared to the above described initial position; the last together with the vamp mounted on it and secured to the inner-sole is removed and substituted with another last and vamp.

The time necessary to perform this operation is adjusted and controlled by the time setting device controlling the operation of the distributor to feed the various cylinder-piston units in the correct succession.

Modifications and variations can be applied to the device, according to its operational features and the use particularly in consideration of its position with respect to last C.

Obviously the present invention also extends to the lasting machine equipped with the device according to this invention whereby said device may consist either of a single unit or of an assembly thus remaining within the limits and hence, within the domain of this invention.

I claim:

1. A device for lasting shoes comprising:

a frame member (10);

a last (C) mounted on said frame member (10);

at least one pair of serrated clamps (48, 55), said clamps adapted to engage the edge of a shoe vamp; driving means including a cylinder-piston assembly (16, 22) connected to said pair of serrated clamps (48, 55) for driving said clamps towards the last to conduct said vamp edge around the last of the shoe;

means (14, 15) pivotally connecting said drive means to said frame member for imparting an oscillating motion to said clamps (48, 55) when they are driven; shaping means (84); and second driving means (76) connected to said shaping means (84) and pivotally mounted to said frame (10) at the same pivot point (14) as said first drive means for driving said shaping means in substantially the same direction as said first driving means drives said clamps (48, 55) for causing said vamp edge to evenly adhere to the inner-sole of a shoe. 2. A device according to claim 1 further comprising: a second hinge (27, 28), the axis of which is parallel to that of the first hinge, coupling said pair of serrated clamps to said driving means (16, 22); and

spring means (30) resiliently maintaining said clamps in a predetermined relationship with respect to said driving means, said spring means (30) allowing said clamps to pivot about said second hinge when resistance is met at said last.

3. A device according to claim 1 further comprising adjusting means (20) mounted on frame 10) to limit the oscillating motion of said clamps (48, 55) when they are being driven.

4. A device according to claim 1 further comprising spring means (64) biasing said driving means to oppose the oscillation of said clamps about said first hinge means (14-15) during the lasting operation, the action of said spring means (64) being limited by said adjusting means (20).

5. A device according to claim 1 further comprising a third hinge pivotally mounting said shaping means (84) to said driving means (76).

6. A device according to claim 5 further comprising 7 biasing means (94) biasing said shaping means (84) against said last during operation.

7. A device according to claim 6 further comprising heating means (100) for heating said shaping means (84) to enhance adhesion of said shoe vamp to an inner-sole.

8. A device according to claim 5 further comprising slider means (78) coupling said shaping means (84) to said third hinge (95).

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein said shaping means (84) includes a plurality of plates (84) and said slider means (78) includes a plurality of sliders (78).

10. A device according to claim 1 comprising biasing means (64) biasing said second driving means (76) in a direction towards said last (C).

11. A device according to claim 1 further comprising a second cylinder-piston assembly (34, 35) coupling said clamps (48, 55) to said driving means (16, 22), one of said clamps (48) being fixedly secured to said second cylinder (34), the other of said clamps being pivotally secured on said second cylinder (34) and operable by said second piston (35 12. A device according to claim 1 comprising clamp biasing means (56) biasing said clamps (48, 55) in an open position, said clamps (48, 55) being closed when said second cylinder-piston assembly (34, 35) is operated.

13. A device according to claim 1 comprising:

a plurality of pairs of serrated clamps (48, 55);

a plurality of clamp driving means (15, 22) pivotally connected to said frame member (10) at different locations relative to said shoe last (C), a pair of serrated clamps (48, 55) being coupled to each of said clamp driving means; and

a plurality of shaping means (84) pivotally mounted to said frame (10) at each of said different locations on said frame (10) relative to said shoe last (C).

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,212,553 8/1940 Rohrer 129 2,623,224 12/1952 Zaoral et a1. 12-9 3,060,469 10/1962 Diemel et a1. 1211.3 3,273,183 9/1966 Schindler 1211.3

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

